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Class Action Lawsuit for 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by PriusPhile, Feb 4, 2010.

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  1. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Slightly OT

    The irony is that we spend a good 10-20 minutes on the pre-flight inspection, but most of us, pilots included, simply get into our cars and drive.

    Despite this, I don't think a pre-drive inspection would reveal any issue w/ an electronic system such as the Prius brakes, just like a pre-flight wouldn't reveal an intermittent failure w/ a radio, fuel pump, or FADEC system (granted the latter two might surface during run-up). Only during operation do they surface.

    :focus:
     
  2. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    This isn't a fact though. It's allegedly attributed to the so-called braking problem, but I fail to see how "surging" forward 90 feet when braking from 60 mph, which takes a mere 1.02 seconds to cover, could be responsible for crashing into something.
     
  3. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    What sends an even clearer message is when it comes time to buy the next car and people "vote" with their wallets.

    If the object I'm trying to avoid is 200ft out, and my 2010 Prius has a best case braking distance of 118ft, that 90ft could be significant and could make the difference of stopping well short or having a low speed impact.

    HOWEVER - during a panic stop, you're likely already outside the realm of which this phenomenon occurs, and probably relying entirely on friction brakes and the ABS system. The phenomenon we're discussing is lighter braking which is generally regen only (or light friction braking), where regeneration is a significant portion of the commanded braking force.
     
  4. centurion

    centurion New Member

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    Whilst I am Australian I still pretty sure that suing someone for suspicion, hearsay and no actual financial loss is not exactly winning legal formula. What value in $$'s do you place on your current predicament I wonder.
     
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    One party will make out just fine - the lawyers accepting the frivolous lawsuit. Until quantifiable damages can be proven, there is no case.
     
  6. alexfair

    alexfair New Member

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    My situation is unique since I bought my car 12 days ago and I asked several people if there were any at recalls on the car and told no by the dealer. But toyota knew of this issue and started the fix in 2010 year made cars mine was 12/2009 made.

    Further more the investigation just started on the possible cover up. So it might not be hearsay for long.
     
  7. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    I'm a much better pilot than driver. I had a hot flight instructor, who did things like rub my leg, then pull the power. She said it was so I could handle an emergency landing while I was distracted.

    No, the braking problem wouldn't surface even on a run up over a bumpy driveway. I relied on reports from this site. I was able to recreate the problem, but only once after a great deal of trying, and not again. I think having felt it once makes me safer if it happens. My previous Lexus was extremely reliable, and I am hoping this Prius will be too. I'll feel much better about it after its fixed though.
     
  8. Grateful11

    Grateful11 Member

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    That still doesn't mean the dealer knew about it. I have a friend that
    works at one of the largest dealerships in the southeast and yesterday
    afternoon was the first time he had heard anything about the brake problem.
     
  9. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Mine was a gentleman (by gender) and I think I would have slugged him had he tried that :lol:

    I was able to reproduce the braking at certain intersections near Luke AFB (Northern and Litchfield), but they've since patched the road. I'm tempted to setup a camera/tripod to see if I can't get it on camera. Even then, I'm not sure it's intended as "evidence" for a lawsuit, but rather proof to Toyota/Feds.
     
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I have not seen a press release or received notification about any of the pages of TSBs on all my previous cars. Several of the problems were at least as serious as this one. Ford, Honda, and Subaru have been SILENT.
     
  11. jon_lancaster_toyota

    jon_lancaster_toyota Nate Riesen

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    If anyone is looking to file a law suit to recover some future "lost resale dollars," please consider taking the media to court.
    The reporting of the recalls is more focused on Toyota's response than it is any problem or fix that's been offered or implemented. More time per report has been focused on telling you how bad Toyota is at handling the accelerator pedal recall and how Toyota alegedly tried to cover it up.
    Picture this- Toyotas a young Marine going through basic training. The media is the drill sargeant scrutiizing every detail and move he makes. Mocking, poking & prodding non stop.
    Everyone sees this on TV all day long. All the news sites cover it and we read it all day.

    Next, Toyota will be crucified because consumers fear the brake system. The local news tonight tells me the brakes fail momentarily. ( Is there such a think is a short term failure? ) There is no mention that all of the Ford Fusion Hybrids ever sold are being called back for the exact same thing. I challenge you to find that on the news! http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123361681&sc=emaf

    Honestly, Toyota will take care of you. Stand by....and please hop off the "Beat Toyota Down," band wagon. No one posting here is in immediate danger, Toyota hasn't done you wrong. Your salesman hasn't done wrong and service didn't kow anything for the last 6 months.

    Jeff, ( if you're still in here some where) I remember you stopping in several months ago telling me that you experienced this. I'm sorry, I really didn't know.
     
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  12. dammitdex

    dammitdex New Member

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    Don't mind John and the Toyota lemmings. I've seen John voraciously and baselessly defend Toyota on these forums multiple times. They're blinded by idealism and brand loyalty. You have every right to be pissed off. It's justified.
     
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  13. Frankblack0503

    Frankblack0503 New Member

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    Finally the dreamscenario for the American car brands to win some customers alltough they have rubbish cars... :-/
    But that said, safety is something you don't mess with... In times of crisis the manufacturers job is to make maximum profit by using materials as cheap as possible... :-(
     
  14. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Nah, it couldn't be. Do you think that having pumped billions into GM that the US government would have any interest in killing off the competition from a successful foreign company?
     
  15. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

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    Do you think anything you say will affect whether a class action law suit is filed? Do you think the class action lawyers, looking at millions in profits, are looking for your advice on whether a suit has merit at this point? Open your eyes and see this for what it is. A bashing trolling thread.
     
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  16. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    For those pushing for a class action lawsuit, maybe you should know that the class action suit filed in 1987 on the Audi acceleration problems is still at the trial court level, having been appealed and remanded several times. In other words, not one person has won a single dollar from it. And that is with Audi, which is certainly not Toyota.

    I, personally, don't have that kind of patience even if I thought a class action were meritorious.
     
  17. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    Lets see if I follow your argument logically.
    • What you're saying is that because the Prius was subject to a recall you feel that your vehicle has lost value.
    • You feel that even though you haven't sold it you might get less today if you did sell it.
    • This loss is undetermined, i.e. there's no value assigned to this loss
    • You feel that this loss is a result of the recall.
    Amiright so far?

    So in your mind every vehicle maker that issues a recall should also be required to send a check to every current owner of that vehicle for some 'loss of value', whatever you feel is accurate $10, $30, $1000?

    Amiright?

    This is ridiculous. You are never guaranteed any resale value on any vehicle you purchase. It only applies if you lease the vehicle. Resale value is simply a function of how many vehicles are being offered for resale and how many buyers are in the market at that time. Nothing more. If you put yours up for sale tomorrow and yours is the only one being offered and 100 buyers are out there looking for a Prius then you can demand any price you want until all the buyers say NO. It's really that simple.

    All these other theoretical losses in value are hooey. If you hold yours for 12 years and put 250,000 miles on it I guarantee you that it will be 'worth' about $1000-$2000 assuming it's still in running condition. What value did you lose? Nothing. So why should you be compensated for some theoretical loss in your mind.
     
  18. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    Those of us like John that have actually been driving the Prius since it began have a lot more data and experience than purported prospective owners like yourself who haven't driven one owned-mile yet.

    This truly amazes me and causes me to assign the troll label to you. You suddenly appear here bashing Toyota and putting the Prius down but you pretend to be waiting for your own Prius to arrive so that you can spend your hard-earned money on it and hate it all the time while being afraid of it.

    You want to buy it and immediately you want to join a class action suit because you're going to lose money buying it. :rolleyes: Yeah right, are you insane?

    Why doesn't this make any sense? Because you have no intention of buying one. Amiright? You are here just to knock down the vehicle.
     
  19. GoSkins

    GoSkins Member

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    Bull! It is not a case of defending Toyota. It's about media generated hysteria! I just received a recall on my 2000 Mercedes that the fuel line is rubbing against the brake line and could rupture causing brake failure (or blowing you up). Have you seen or heard anything out of the media about that? I have driven my 2010 Prius up and down the east coast in all types of weather. I feel completely safe in it. That doesn't mean I don't have the reported problem, I just haven't experienced it. I'll bet my experience is the majority. Something will be fixed I assure you, if only to calm the media hysteria. What ever happened to reporting on Health Care reform, the rising debt and the economy still going to hell?
     
  20. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    You stole my thunder. I believe this is the most cost-efficient, civilised, honourable and desirable (from the perspective of the rest of us) thing to do. :tea:
     
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